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The war in Afghanistan involving more than 40 countries including hundreds of New Zealanders is stepping up another notch.
American President Barack Obama is sending 30,000 more troops to join the fight against the Taliban and he is urging allies to send more troops.
The reinforcements will take the number of US troops in Afghanistan to about 100,000.
This is in addition to the 42,000 allied forces fighting the eight-year-old war including 300 New Zealanders.
John Key held a press conference on Wednesday and he says it is quite possible the US will ask New Zealand for an extra contribution to troops in Afghanistan.
Key however says it is unlikely they will agree. He says the SAS are there now and New Zealand is doing all it can.
He says there is no plan for New Zealand to increase the comitment of troops.
While no Kiwis have died there the death toll is mounting with more than 1,500 military fatalities. Most of them have been from the US followed by the US and other allies including 11 Australians.
Although there are no exact figures it is estimated that the war has caused the deaths of between 12,000 and 30,000 Afghan civilians.
